The State Government is gambling public money on non-existent mining royalties in the hope of keeping Queensland’s finances afloat, says the Lock the Gate Alliance.

The Maules Creek Community Council (MCCC) has today launched legal action in court to stop the clearing of Leard State Forest for the controversial Maules Creek Coal Mine, near Narrabri in north-west NSW.

The State Government’s proposed ‘one-stop shop’ for mining companies further erodes the rights of Queenslanders, says the Lock the Gate Alliance.

The Lock the Gate Alliance has warned of a profound environmental and legal impact from proposed changes to the nation’s strongest environmental legislation currently being considered by the government.

The Lock the Gate Alliance has expressed grave concern at a finding by the NSW Chief Scientist that the coal seam gas industry is under-insured, or in some cases not insured at all, for a pollution event or other disaster.